Abstract
Purpose of review
Summarize the latest literature and our own clinical experience in the emerging technique of tele-antimicrobial stewardship, and provide practical advice for those considering providing or consuming this service.
Recent findings
The need for tele-antimicrobial stewardship is high and rising. Although the benefits of antimicrobial stewardship are well documented, tele-antimicrobial stewardship is a recent advance, and there is a relative lack of peer-reviewed clinical trials substantiating the impact of telehealth techniques in antimicrobial stewardship.
Summary
Antimicrobial stewardship is more important today than ever. In some cases, it may not be possible for smaller hospitals to provide comprehensive stewardship services on-site without assistance. However, tele-antimicrobial stewardship partnerships with other centers online may alleviate this burden and improve patient outcomes.
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References and Recommended Reading
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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Paul S Pottinger, Zahra Kassamali, Theodore C Wright, Natalia Martinez-Paz, and John B Lynch declare that they have no competing interests.
John D Scott reports personal fees from Tacere Therapeutics, Novartis, and Premera Blue Cross, and grants from Merck.
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Antimicrobial Stewardship
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Pottinger, P.S., Kassamali, Z., Wright, T.C. et al. Tele-antimicrobial Stewardship in Action. Curr Treat Options Infect Dis 10, 229–239 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40506-018-0161-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40506-018-0161-0